Speaking to journalists last week, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta also pushed back, dismissing as "pure propaganda" reports based on a leaked letter from the country's Auditor General warning that assets belonging to the Kenya Port Authority -- including Mombasa's massive Kilindini Harbor, the largest port in East Africa -- were listed as collateral for a multi-billion-dollar loan to fund a railway project.

"The Chinese government themselves say this (it) is nonsense," Kenyatta said, while the AG's office denied publishing any such letter, copies of which circulated widely online.

Despite Beijing and Nairobi's vehement denials, concerns over the loans speak to a growing fear in many developing countries that their governments, in rushing to cash in on China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), have left themselves overextended, with Chinese state-owned companies ready to snap up ports, railways and other key infrastructure across the globe should debtors default.

Five years into the BRI, the sheen is also coming off the project in Beijing, amid an ongoing -- though temporarily paused -- trade war with the US, and concerns over future funding and returns on an increasingly unwieldy list of overseas investments.

Debt fears
For critics of the BRI, Sri Lanka's Hambantota port is the perfect example of the risks developing countries are taking on with their Chinese loans.

The move sparked fears China would use similar defaults in other countries to acquire a host of new infrastructure, with both potential economic and military benefits -- leapfrogging rivals in the region such as India and the US.

In mid-2018, the Zambian government had to deny reports it was preparing to hand over control of multiple public assets, including the state broadcaster and Lusaka's Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, to China.

The venture was considered economically unviable and indeed, in the years that followed, the port sat empty and neglected, and Sri Lanka's debt ballooned.

But India's economic foresight might have cost it in terms of strategic geopolitics, since the debt incurred on the port and the surrounding infrastructure undertakings now belong to its great rival.

China's official licensing of the port in December last year gives it yet another point of access over a key shipping route, and the prospect of providing it with a sizeable presence in India's immediate backyard and traditional sphere of influence, bringing China closer to India's shores than New Delhi might like.

Expert Member

India and China have a long standing border -- stand-off , and have actually come to blows

China is about to turn the INDIAN ocean into a CHINESE lake
Look read and gain wisdom

Now -- quite close to you Mr OP ( I am surprised you do not mention it )

Maputo-Catembe Bridge impact on South Africa

The Maputo-Catembe Bridge is guaranteed to cut travel time between Maputo in Mozambique and KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa.

KwaZulu-Natal’s Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs confirmed that this development, which involved South African engineers, would stimulate trade and tourism between the two countries, saying:

“The road will see the travel time between Maputo to Kosi Bay, KwaZulu-Natal’s East coast border post, drastically reduced, from 6 hours to 90 minutes.

This is a huge achievement. It will boost trade and tourism between South Africa and Mozambique.”

Soon the Chinese will be taking over MAPUTO
and
Building a SIX lane highway to Gauteng ! ( Oom Paul Kruger's dream to be rid of the English )

GOODBYE DURBAN and RICHARDS BAY .........

For those still a bit dubious -- ISRAEL hands over port of HAIFA to Chinese

Did Israel compromise its own security and its alliance with the US by allowing a Chinese company to operate parts of the Haifa port?Several analysts and anonymous officials have in recent weeks expressed great concern over a deal that will put the Shanghai International Port Group in charge of the port’s container terminal starting in 2021.

Allowing Beijing a foothold in so strategically important a location, close to an Israeli naval base, they fear, could compromise Israeli intelligence assets and even lead US military vessels to avoid docking at Haifa at all.

Having established a military base in Djibouti on the coast as recently as last year, China is expanding political and military influence in the region, inspiring substantial concern among US officials and prompting discussion of a stronger commitment.

“Djibouti is a key, strategic United States partner in the region and is host to Camp Lemonnier, the sole enduring presence for the United State military in Africa since 2003. Djibouti remains committed to ensuring the pursuit of our shared interests in the region,” a State Dept. official told Warrior Maven Global Security.

It’s a truism that if a country’s military, no matter how big, cannot operate for a protracted period beyond its own boundaries, then it is little more than a territorial defense force. Since the end of the Cold War, the People’s Republic of China and its People’s Liberation Army have been hard at work to shake this perception of their capabilities and expand their presence around the world. Now, Chinese troops are on their way to the Horn of Africa to staff the country’s first permanent overseas base, which opens the door for deployments well beyond the continent.

Far from a failure the new "Silk Road" has been / will be a HUGE success -- FOR THE CHINESE IMPERIALISTS

JOHANNESBURG – Chinese President Xi Jinping has given South Africa’s land reform policy the thumbs up.This has been revealed by President Cyril Ramaphosa, who is on a state visit in Beijing.Ramaphosa was hosted by Jinping at the State House on Sunday and will on Monday co-chair a Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.

Executive Member

India and China have a long standing border -- stand-off , and have actually come to blows

China is about to turn the INDIAN ocean into a CHINESE lake
Look read and gain wisdom

Now -- quite close to you Mr OP ( I am surprised you do not mention it )

Maputo-Catembe Bridge impact on South Africa

The Maputo-Catembe Bridge is guaranteed to cut travel time between Maputo in Mozambique and KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa.

KwaZulu-Natal’s Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs confirmed that this development, which involved South African engineers, would stimulate trade and tourism between the two countries, saying:

“The road will see the travel time between Maputo to Kosi Bay, KwaZulu-Natal’s East coast border post, drastically reduced, from 6 hours to 90 minutes.

This is a huge achievement. It will boost trade and tourism between South Africa and Mozambique.”

Soon the Chinese will be taking over MAPUTO
and
Building a SIX lane highway to Gauteng ! ( Oom Paul Kruger's dream to be rid of the English )

GOODBYE DURBAN and RICHARDS BAY .........

For those still a bit dubious -- ISRAEL hands over port of HAIFA to Chinese

Did Israel compromise its own security and its alliance with the US by allowing a Chinese company to operate parts of the Haifa port?Several analysts and anonymous officials have in recent weeks expressed great concern over a deal that will put the Shanghai International Port Group in charge of the port’s container terminal starting in 2021.

Allowing Beijing a foothold in so strategically important a location, close to an Israeli naval base, they fear, could compromise Israeli intelligence assets and even lead US military vessels to avoid docking at Haifa at all.

Having established a military base in Djibouti on the coast as recently as last year, China is expanding political and military influence in the region, inspiring substantial concern among US officials and prompting discussion of a stronger commitment.

“Djibouti is a key, strategic United States partner in the region and is host to Camp Lemonnier, the sole enduring presence for the United State military in Africa since 2003. Djibouti remains committed to ensuring the pursuit of our shared interests in the region,” a State Dept. official told Warrior Maven Global Security.

It’s a truism that if a country’s military, no matter how big, cannot operate for a protracted period beyond its own boundaries, then it is little more than a territorial defense force. Since the end of the Cold War, the People’s Republic of China and its People’s Liberation Army have been hard at work to shake this perception of their capabilities and expand their presence around the world. Now, Chinese troops are on their way to the Horn of Africa to staff the country’s first permanent overseas base, which opens the door for deployments well beyond the continent.

Far from a failure the new "Silk Road" has been / will be a HUGE success -- FOR THE CHINESE IMPERIALISTS

JOHANNESBURG – Chinese President Xi Jinping has given South Africa’s land reform policy the thumbs up.This has been revealed by President Cyril Ramaphosa, who is on a state visit in Beijing.Ramaphosa was hosted by Jinping at the State House on Sunday and will on Monday co-chair a Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.

Honorary Master

Don't forget China just started testing a rail gun (non-gunpowder based ship munition) which essentially render the US navy less capable as they can fire and take down a carrier ship from 150km away apparently

Expert Member

China seems to have impressive record in infrastructure projects. If some countries are not able to pay back (or worse), how is it China's fault? To give anology, is etolls to be blamed on Austria (Kapsch Trafficcom) or SA government?

Expert Member

SA received 6.1 billion dollars in 2017 - that is just one country giving aid to one country in africa. We need to ask what countries are doing with this money. I know this is for HIV & TB programmes etc. but african continnent receives billions of dollars of aid - pretty sure there must be some given for infrastructure? Millions of dollars have been donated by Bill gates foundation alone.

Expert Member

China seems to have impressive record in infrastructure projects. If some countries are not able to pay back (or worse), how is it China's fault? To give anology, is etolls to be blamed on Austria (Kapsch Trafficcom) or SA government?

Expert Member

The West provides huge amounts of "AID" -- a con game
Western companies are wary of actually sending anyone to construct anything ( apart from the useless "Peace-Corps" ) in case they are accused of -- neo-colonialism
Western companies also have strict corporate governance rules by which they are meant ot conduct business ( not that they abide by them )

The Chinese have NO such restrictions or scruples -- historically they cannot be accused of colonialism and are not considered European ( white )
They leave the locals to get on with whatever it is that they do
and
Import their OWN labour / technicians / engineers as well as plant

Executive Member

The West provides huge amounts of "AID" -- a con game
Western companies are wary of actually sending anyone to construct anything ( apart from the useless "Peace-Corps" ) in case they are accused of -- neo-colonialism
Western companies also have strict corporate governance rules by which they are meant ot conduct business ( not that they abide by them )

The Chinese have NO such restrictions or scruples -- historically they cannot be accused of colonialism and are not considered European ( white )
They leave the locals to get on with whatever it is that they do
and
Import their OWN labour / technicians / engineers as well as plant

So, in reality, the West does little more than offer "aid" which often just disappears to corruption, nepotism and into unknown coffers , while China actually just buys and builds things.
They also have the sense not to use local labour and bring their own, smart.
Seems like the West has shot itself in the foot with its own restrictive rules, and is now trying to make China look bad in the press.

Honorary Master

So, in reality, the West does little more than offer "aid" which often just disappears to corruption, nepotism and into unknown coffers , while China actually just buys and builds things.
They also have the sense not to use local labour and bring their own, smart.
Seems like the West has shot itself in the foot with its own restrictive rules, and is now trying to make China look bad in the press.

The chinese know full well their 'beneficiaries' cannot service the debt so they make them sign away strategic national assets as guarantees. Those things they built for the 'beneficiaries' will actually be used by themselves for their own benefit at the end of the day exploiting the assets that were signed over to them. Very smart of them